Agenda and minutes

All members were present.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 19 April 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2016 were presented.

Resolved

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2016

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

The Leader stated that she had asked Democratic Services to co-ordinate any donations made in memory of former Wiltshire Councillor Jeff Osborn as discussed with Cllr Glenis Ansell before the meeting.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public. This meeting is open to the public, who may ask a question or make a statement. Questions may also be asked by members of the Council.  Written notice of questions or statements should be given to Yamina Rhouati of Democratic Services by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 11 May 2016.  Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

The Leader drew the meeting’s attention to the questions and responses circulated in the agenda supplement, and invited those who had submitted questions to address the committee.

(a) Question from Councillor Jon Hubbard – Five Year Land Supply

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Hubbard, Councillor Sturgis stated that although the 5 year land supply situation can change quite rapidly, the response given in writing was correct. He did, however, explain that the final sentence in the response should be corrected to read: ‘In these circumstances, the benefits should significantly and demonstrably outweigh the adverse impacts.’

Councillor Sturgis went on to state that housing numbers designated to individual communities were indicative required, and that whilst local plans, neighbourhood plans and the core strategy were important documents for communities to shape their local areas, the Secretary of State’s and Inspector’s decisions show that speculative developments still had to be judged on their own merits to determine whether they promote sustainable development.

(b) Question from Adrienne Westbrook - Multi Use Games Area in King George V Park

In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Westbrook, Councillor Sturgis stated that the planning application stage gave the opportunity for the Town Council to make comments. The Council had spoken to Fields in Trust prior to the application as their prior consent was required.

Furthermore, the Leader added that she would ask officers to investigate what communication was undertaken with the Local Member with a view to seeing if processes could be improved.

 Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director.

Councillor Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, presented the report which sought approval to work with Wiltshire CCG to recommission

a new integrated service delivery model for primary and specialist CAMHS in order to meet the changing needs of children and young people. A number of options for commissioning this service were set out in the report and a recommendation provided on the best option to secure the service required.

Issues highlighted in the course of the presentation and discussion included: that Mental health had been identified as a top priority by representatives from the local Youth Parliament; how the proposed procurement process differed from the previous model; the limited number of suppliers in the market; how procurement specialists in the CCG and the Council were working together; the opportunity to provide an holistic service for children and young people; and the increase in demand for services and the changing needs of children and young people;.

In response to a request from the Leader, it was agreed to amend recommendation ii) so that officers be asked to investigate the possibility of Wiltshire Council taking a joint-lead procurer role for the new service.

Following concerns raised by Councillor Glenis Ansell, Carolyn Godfrey clarified that the preferred bidder model proposed was a commonly used procurement process and would still allow for the appropriate due diligence activity to be undertaken.

Resolved

 i.       To agree that the Council should work with the Wiltshire CCG to recommission a new integrated service delivery model for primary and specialist CAMHS to meet the needs of children and young people. To include aligning Wiltshire Council funding for Primary CAMHS with Wiltshire CCG funding for specialist CAMHS;

ii.       That officers be asked to investigate whether it would be practicable for Wiltshire Council to become a joint lead commissioner for the new service;

iii.       To approve the commissioning approach already agreed by the Wiltshire CCG Governing Body to test the market to establish if undertaking a most capable provider process is the appropriate route to secure the service required (option 3). To include authorisation from Cabinet to undertake a tender process if required, in accordance with the ‘light touch’ regime as detailed within the Public Contract Regulations (option 2). This shall be led by the Wiltshire CCG with the Council as an associate; and

iv.       To delegate approval of the procurement process, including the development a revised service specification and decision on award of contract to the Corporate Director in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Cabinet Member for Public Health and the Solicitor of the Council.

Reason for Decision:

The local CCG transformation plan for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing sets out the overall joint strategic direction, clear vision and principles for delivering a child and youth mental health system that can meet the changing needs of children and young people in Wiltshire, for example, the increase in eating disorders and self-harming behaviour. The plan  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

 Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director.

Councillor Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, presented a report which provided an update on the progress of maintained schools converting to academies and the potential role of the Local Authority in converting a current budget deficit into a formal loan to a maintained school, to facilitate their transition to become an academy.

Issues highlighted in the course of the presentation and discussion included: that the proposed approach sought to reduce the financial risks to the authority; how the Council would assure itself that academies were able to meet the requirements of a loan; that the proposals should be cost-neutral for the Council; and that the proposals could encourage better financial management amongst relevant schools.

Resolved

1.    To note the current position of Wiltshire schools converting to academies

2.    To delegate powers to the Associate Director, Finance to consider awarding loans to maintained schools to facilitate their conversion to become an academy.

3.    To authorise the Associate Director, Finance, to enter into appropriate formal arrangements for the award of a loan, where the maintained school currently is in a financial deficit position with the Local Authority and has an agreed recovery plan that extends beyond the standard 3-5 year recovery period. In all cases, loans will only be made following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cabinet Member for Finance, Associate Director Law and Governance, Associate Director Commissioning Performance and School Effectiveness and in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1972.

Reason for Decision:

Due to Wiltshire being a poorly funded authority for school funding, combined with the impact of the current demographics, a small number of Wiltshire schools are in a financial budget deficit position. All deficits are being managed in conjunction with the LA.

Budget deficits have proved a barrier to those schools converting to become an academy, and leave the financial risk of the deficit with the local authority. The purpose of this report is to provide members with background information and seek a decision regarding the conversion of these budget deficits into a formal loan.

Report by Maggie Rae, Corporate Director.

Councillor Keith Humphries, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, presented a report which provided Cabinet with feedback on progress with the business continuity programme, and asked for the measures outlined in the report to be approved.

Issues highlighted in the course of the presentation and discussion included: how the programme would be progressed; how any disruptions would be managed; the support and advice available to businesses; that, on average, a fifth of businesses would suffer major disruptions in any year; the impact of disruptions on future trading; and the work undertaken with partners in the local resilience forum.

Resolved

1.     To note the report.

2.     That the measures being taken to ensure effective business continuity as outlined in the report be approved.

Reason for Decision:

To keep the Cabinet appraised of plans.